Here are facts right now, that your gyno wishes you knew, especially before an appointment!
One: You Don’t Need Special Products For Your Lady Parts
We are talking about those cleansers and products that make your privates clean and smell nice. Feminine deodorant sprays, cleansers, and douches can be irritating and could lead to inflammation, rashes, and infections. Your vagina is pretty good at maintaining a healthy balance, so introducing new products can upset this process and cause a reaction. Save some money and keep it simple by just using just water or mild, unscented soap when you shower!
Two: You Don’t Need to Be Sexually Active to Start Seeing a Gyno
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that girls come in between the age of 13 to 15. You do not need to be sexually active to visit your gyno. If you’re worried about having to have a pelvic exam during your first visit, that may not be the case. Your Gynecologist will just do a health exam and go over any questions you may have!
You should go see a gyno if you have started being sexually active and/or are having trouble with your period.
Three: Please Don’t Self-Diagnose Using The Internet
The internet is a great place to learn and explore new ideas, but it’s not a place to seek medical advice. As much as we pack into these blogs with info to help you, the best place to find medical advice and treatment is your doctor. They can cater to your needs that no other place on the internet can provide! However, the internet isn’t all bad. Sometimes you may use to see if something is serious and you want to look it up real quick. If that’s the case, you can visit official sites like acog.org (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) or asrm.org (American Society of Reproductive Medicine).
Just always remember you can reach out to your doctor with questions and rely on them to give you the best advice for your situation.
Four: Don’t be too nervous to schedule an appointment
Whether it’s your first time visiting a gyno or not, there’s something about sitting in a paper gown and having someone look at your privates that can feel daunting, to say the least! Unfortunately too, people can have bad experiences at appointments that make them not ever want to return. Here are some quick tips to help ease the nerves:
- New Gyno? How do they make you feel after your first visit? Did you feel comfortable? Did they address your concerns or were they dismissive? Don’t feel bad if you didn’t have a good experience. You can always switch to another doctor or practice that you feel more comfortable with.
- At a loss where to even find a new gyno? Ask around! Word-of-mouth is powerful and chances are there are plenty of other ladies out there who are happy to point you in the right direction. Ask trusted friends or family for recommendations. You can even look online and call ahead and ask ahead. You can get a good gauge on their service by seeing how they treat clients before you even schedule an appointment.
- Feeling Pain Down There? Many women are sensitive to pelvic exams and pap smears. Some of which find it pretty painful. You shouldn’t have grit and bear it! Next time you visit your doctor, we encourage you to let them know about this discomfort or pain. We are happy to help make your visit as comfortable as possible!
Speaking of appointments… Looking to schedule a new appointment or check-up with us? We are happy to do so. Just contact us through any of our three locations and we’ll get you set up!